Tarrant County Chooses Tried and True FDR Process

When Tarrant County's rapidly expanding urban development necessitated upgrading roads, 15-year Texas Dept. of Transportation veteran Richard Schiller turned to cement recycling. Now the county's Precinct 3 field operations director, Schiller choose the process after witnessing its success at TxDOT's Fort Worth District. "TxDOT maintenance crews have been successfully using [full-depth recycling] with cement to repair base failures for several years," he says. Since 2001, Schiller's precinct has recycled 360,000 sq. yds. with cement. In 2004, the county plans to cement recycle 180,000 sq. yds. with the help of a new injection-system-equipped pulverizer. "We have several FDR projects scheduled for next year" says Schiller. The process's application is not only growing for county roads, "cities in our precinct are also requesting more FDR projects to rehabilitate their roads," adds Schiller. The county typically pulverizes and mixes in 4.5% cement six-inches deep. Two-inches of asphalt or a two-course surface treatment tops the roadways. Material costs are about $1.20 per sq. yd. The recycled roads are "performing well," says Schiller. "Construction is fast with minimal traffic disruptions. This is a very cost effective way to rehabilitate existing roadways."